Families will be supported

By Alyssa Allen

The Mayor of the Pyrenees Shire says he will do his best to support locals impacted by the Chepstowe grassfire that destroyed four homes yesterday afternoon including the historical Carngham station homestead. Mayor Michael O'Connor says the shire will do everything possible to help the families who were affected by the blaze.

One thousand, one hundred and fifty hectares were destroyed by the fire that started mid afternoon.

O'Connor applauded the shire, fire authorities and volunteers in helping control the blaze.

"We certainly learnt a lot from the floods two years ago in terms of our need to be quick in response to these sorts of things, I believe our people were fairly instrumental in opening up the relief centre in Wendouree, which was a great idea."

"If you of have bought them back into the Snake Valley area, well all you needed was a significant wind change to push the fire back and the whole of Snake Valley could have been under impact from it, the decision to use Wendouree was a very sensible one.

Volunteer Jeremy Bannister supported his friend's property in Bo Peep to prevent fires from spotting and was disappointed with the dozens of vehicles that travelled from Ballarat to 'watch' the fire.

"As you know, if you are doing it for work you are there for a reason, but if you don't have to be there get out of the way."